Jason Seter English 8-3 12 April 2010 Shakespeare Compendium The Nature of Elizabethan Military and Armed Conflicts of Her Reign In addressing the state of military affairs in the time of Elizabeth I, it is crucial to note that there was no standing army at the time. In spite of this, Elizabeth was forced to engage in numerous clashes with hostile opposition, for which there was a large reliance on a simple national guard. I will examine this authority, known as the Trained Bands, and its training, equipment, and organization within their ranks. Also, I will delve into the basics concerning the causes and outcomes of the said armed conflicts, including the famous war with Spain. The major English fighting force of the time was, indeed, the Trained Bands. The Trained Bands were basically a national guard of enlisted middle classmen who practiced light training once monthly, often in close proximity with towns and villages, according to the website of the Guild of St. Michael. In truth, they were little more than local militia, managed locally by the lords of their corresponding counties. During times of training, they were directly overseen by professional soldiers and experienced veterans who taught commonplace techniques and tactics. More common amongst these techniques was skill with the pike, fundamentally a long spear which, according to the Guild of St. Michael, ran the gamut of lengths from 12 to 20 feet. These weapons were typically used to repel offensive cavalry, as their advantageous length deterred any immediate close quarters combat. The Trained Bands were also instructed in the use of firearms, which were being used far more often than in the former years of Medieval warfare. As written by the Guild of St. Michael’s website, the most common weapon of this sort was known as the matchlock, which was a rudimentary musket. It was inaccurate, slow, and largely unreliable in its handling, but was still a vast improvement and innovation in comparison to firearms of earlier years. Shot revolutionized the tactical components of field warfare, and the regiments of the Trained Bands were compelled to train with guns on their minds. Though enlistment in the Trained Bands was compulsory, social refuse such as vagrants or criminals were not permitted to join their ranks. Rather, they were the first to suffer conscription for foreign battles and showdowns, either as fitting punishment or a permitted chance at redemption. Thus, much of Elizabeth’s fighting forces during the battle with Spain were indeed transgressors against English society. These people, from the lower class cast out to the middle class landowner, were what comprised the Elizabethan army during the three major conflicts of her reign. The most famous of these bloody disputes was the war with Spain, whereas the lesser known Irish War and the Nine Years War sink into relative obscurity. Chronologically, the first was the Irish War or the Desmond Rebellion. As per the information of the Elizabethan Era Organization, this fray was, in essence, a power struggle over the rule of an Irish province named Munster. An Irish family, Desmond, led an insurgency against English rule of the province, partly due to religious differences between the parties. At the time, Protestants and Catholics were ill at ease in their relations, due to their discriminations concerning the interpretation of the Bible. The Irish Catholics had long been subject to the Protestant English aristocracy, and tensions between the two had long been brewing. For this, a rebellion was inevitable, and for three decades a series of sporadic uprisings in the aforesaid province of Munster had loosed death and destruction in the area. Hundreds of rebels were executed, and the Irish lords of the area were exiled by the English. England then imposed strict laws on Irish subjects, slighting the Irish people with malignant intention. Later on, however, with pecuniary and military support from Catholic Spain and the Catholic Pope, Ireland resumed its rebellion. But, in the end, England subdued the Irish and the papal troops, and forced submission by instigating a long lasting famine in the area. According to the Elizabethan Organization, the English rulers burned crops and heavily influenced proper food distribution so as to foment the tragedy. While Elizabeth addressed these issues in Ireland, she was also grievously busy in dealing with the aggressive advances of Catholic Spain. There are two ways one could look at the causes of this confrontation. In the long-term, one could label this war as the result of a greater discord between the nations over the amount of wealth and power to be gained in the New World. In the shorter term, one could label this war as a product of religious differences, as Protestant England and Catholic Spain severely disliked and distrusted each other for their beliefs. The Elizabethan Organization wrote it well in stating that eventually, the mutual stupor of hatred snapped to an awakened state of violence with the excommunication of Elizabeth by the Pope. Spain felt they saw a chance for the conquest of their enemies, and were additionally provoked by English piracy, as seamen of the hated nationality were exploiting their merchant vessels for gold and silver. Ultimately, the battles began in earnest. Naval warfare was pivotal, as Spain’s defeat on the seas resulted in the final failure to conquer their foes. As can be read on the site of the Elizabethan Organization, after fruitless pushes to better the other, the war was finally ended by official decree, and all piracy was stopped. Lastly, there was the Tyrone Rebellion, or the Nine Years War. In basis, the rebellion was very similar to the Desmond Rebellion. The Irish Earl of Tyrone led an uprising against Protestant English lords, abetted by the military support of Spain. The English army suffered several massive defeats, but emerged somewhat as victors after subduing the Irish and the Spanish troops. Upon Elizabeth’s death in 1603, King James is crowned, and the Irish people surrender on good terms to the new monarch. Though Elizabeth I may have appeared to have lacked interest in military campaigning as per the shortcoming of a central army, it is clear she was a skilled strategist, as she willingly entered into several taxing conflicts without failing to pacify the opposition. For this, one’s judgment of her rule cannot omit this apparent gift to sway the enemy, and for this, one cannot omit the tactical and technical skills of the soldiers of the day.
Jason Seter
English 8-3
12 April 2010
Shakespeare Compendium
The Nature of Elizabethan Military and Armed Conflicts of Her Reign
In addressing the state of military affairs in the time of Elizabeth I, it is crucial to note that there was no standing army at the time. In spite of this, Elizabeth was forced to engage in numerous clashes with hostile opposition, for which there was a large reliance on a simple national guard. I will examine this authority, known as the Trained Bands, and its training, equipment, and organization within their ranks. Also, I will delve into the basics concerning the causes and outcomes of the said armed conflicts, including the famous war with Spain.
The major English fighting force of the time was, indeed, the Trained Bands. The Trained Bands were basically a national guard of enlisted middle classmen who practiced light training once monthly, often in close proximity with towns and villages, according to the website of the Guild of St. Michael. In truth, they were little more than local militia, managed locally by the lords of their corresponding counties. During times of training, they were directly overseen by professional soldiers and experienced veterans who taught commonplace techniques and tactics. More common amongst these techniques was skill with the pike, fundamentally a long spear which, according to the Guild of St. Michael, ran the gamut of lengths from 12 to 20 feet. These weapons were typically used to repel offensive cavalry, as their advantageous length deterred any immediate close quarters combat. The Trained Bands were also instructed in the use of firearms,
which were being used far more often than in the former years of Medieval warfare. As written by the Guild of St. Michael’s website, the most common weapon of this sort was known as the matchlock, which was a rudimentary musket. It was inaccurate, slow, and largely unreliable in its handling, but was still a vast improvement and innovation in comparison to firearms of earlier years. Shot revolutionized the tactical components of field warfare, and the regiments of the Trained Bands were compelled to train with guns on their minds.
Though enlistment in the Trained Bands was compulsory, social refuse such as vagrants or criminals were not permitted to join their ranks. Rather, they were the first to suffer conscription for foreign battles and showdowns, either as fitting punishment or a permitted chance at redemption. Thus, much of Elizabeth’s fighting forces during the battle with Spain were indeed transgressors against English society.
These people, from the lower class cast out to the middle class landowner, were what comprised the Elizabethan army during the three major conflicts of her reign. The most famous of these bloody disputes was the war with Spain, whereas the lesser known Irish War and the Nine Years War sink into relative obscurity. Chronologically, the first was the Irish War or the Desmond Rebellion. As per the information of the Elizabethan Era Organization, this fray was, in essence, a power struggle over the rule of an Irish province named Munster. An Irish family, Desmond, led an insurgency against English rule of the province, partly due to religious differences between the parties. At the time, Protestants and Catholics
were ill at ease in their relations, due to their discriminations concerning the interpretation of the Bible. The Irish Catholics had long been subject to the Protestant English aristocracy, and tensions between the two had long been brewing. For this, a rebellion was inevitable, and for three decades a series of sporadic uprisings in the aforesaid province of Munster had loosed death and destruction in the area. Hundreds of rebels were executed, and the Irish lords of the area were exiled by the English. England then imposed strict laws on Irish subjects, slighting the Irish people with malignant intention. Later on, however, with pecuniary and military support from Catholic Spain and the Catholic Pope, Ireland resumed its rebellion. But, in the end, England subdued the Irish and the papal troops, and forced submission by instigating a long lasting famine in the area. According to the Elizabethan Organization, the English rulers burned crops and heavily influenced proper food distribution so as to foment the tragedy.
While Elizabeth addressed these issues in Ireland, she was also grievously busy in dealing with the aggressive advances of Catholic Spain. There are two ways one could look at the causes of this confrontation. In the long-term, one could label this war as the result of a greater discord between the nations over the amount of wealth and power to be gained in the New World. In the shorter term, one could label this war as a product of religious differences, as Protestant England and Catholic Spain severely disliked and distrusted each other for their beliefs. The Elizabethan Organization wrote it well in stating that eventually, the mutual stupor of hatred snapped to an awakened state of violence with the excommunication of
Elizabeth by the Pope. Spain felt they saw a chance for the conquest of their enemies, and were additionally provoked by English piracy, as seamen of the hated nationality were exploiting their merchant vessels for gold and silver. Ultimately, the battles began in earnest. Naval warfare was pivotal, as Spain’s defeat on the seas resulted in the final failure to conquer their foes. As can be read on the site of the Elizabethan Organization, after fruitless pushes to better the other, the war was finally ended by official decree, and all piracy was stopped.
Lastly, there was the Tyrone Rebellion, or the Nine Years War. In basis, the rebellion was very similar to the Desmond Rebellion. The Irish Earl of Tyrone led an uprising against Protestant English lords, abetted by the military support of Spain. The English army suffered several massive defeats, but emerged somewhat as victors after subduing the Irish and the Spanish troops. Upon Elizabeth’s death in 1603, King James is crowned, and the Irish people surrender on good terms to the new monarch.
Though Elizabeth I may have appeared to have lacked interest in military campaigning as per the shortcoming of a central army, it is clear she was a skilled strategist, as she willingly entered into several taxing conflicts without failing to pacify the opposition. For this, one’s judgment of her rule cannot omit this apparent gift to sway the enemy, and for this, one cannot omit the tactical and technical skills of the soldiers of the day.